A WISBECH traffic officer went beyond the call of duty when he helped to ensure the safety of a newborn baby which had been born in a car on a motorway hard-shoulder. Traffic officers Rob Clarke and Karl Hensel of Wisbech, had spotted a Citroen parked on

A WISBECH traffic officer went beyond the call of duty when he helped to ensure the safety of a newborn baby which had been born in a car on a motorway hard-shoulder.

Traffic officers Rob Clarke and Karl Hensel of Wisbech, had spotted a Citroen parked on the hard shoulder of the M11 at 9am last Tuesday.

When they pulled over to investigate, it quickly became clear why for moments earlier, mother Caroline Detheridge of Cottenham had given birth to 7lb 4oz Rosie - the first baby known to traffic officers to be born on a motorway hard-shoulder in the East of England.

They set up emergency cones and arrows to protect the scene, and when the ambulance arrived, and the officers ensured paramedics could lift the family into the ambulance in safety.

Jane Kelly, duty operational manager said: "We're very proud of our team for working so quickly to ensure mother and baby were kept safe while the ambulance arrived.

"The M11 hard-shoulder is not the best maternity hospital, but we were all thrilled to hear the baby arrived safely.

Rob said: "The baby had just arrived as we did. We told the father the hard shoulder is for emergencies only, but that we'd let him off on this occasion!

"This is the first baby born on our network in the East, so that's great. Everyone seems to be healthy, so we're very happy to have been able to help the family."

Father Steven Detheridge said: "We would like to thank everyone who helped, the Traffic Officers were brilliant. The baby came so quickly, she was already on the back seat waiting for me by the time I pulled over.